DEAN OF ENNISKILLEN, COUNTY FERMANAGH TO POKENO, NEW ZEALAND

William DEAN married Mary VANCE on the 16 July 1824 at Aghavea Church, Co Fermangh, Northern Ireland. William died in 1847, and is buried at the Aghalurcher Churchyard, Co Fermangh.

Around 1850 the balance of the family moved to Glasgow.

In 1864, Mary DEAN, then aged 61, emigrated to New Zealand with three of her sons, one of their wives, her daughter Margaret, and two grandchildren on the - HELENSLEE - to Auckland. The Helenslee was part of the Waikato Immigration Scheme and almost the entire ship load of passengers from the Helenslee then went on to settle Queens Redoubt on the Great South Road from Auckland. Queens Redoubt is now known as Pokeno.

The DEAN family settled in Pokeno and descendants are still there in 2004. Mary died in 1874 and is buried at the Pokeno Old Soldiers cemetery, on Helenslee Road (originally part of the Great South Road).

William and Mary had ten children;

Jane DEAN born 1825 Aghavea. Died 1850. Buried Aghalurcher Churchyard with her father.

Thomas DEAN born 1827 Aghavea. Possibly went to India.

Catherine DEAN born 1830 poss Enniskillen. Nothing more is known.

John DEAN born 1831 Enniskillen. John moved to Scotland with his mother around 1850. He married Margaret CUNNINGHAM in 1858 in Glasgow. In 1864, John and Margaret came to New Zealand on the HELENSLEE with two children, Margaret b1861 and William b1863. The family settled first in Pokeno and then moved to Paeroa where John had a large stable of horses and was in the carrying business. John and Margaret had another six children, all born in Pokeno. John and Margaret are both buried at the Pokeno Old Soldiers Cemetery in Helenslee Road.

George DEAN born 1834 poss Enniskillen. Was resident in Glasgow with his mother in the 1851 census. Said to have been killed in the Crimean War c1854

William DEAN born 1836 poss Enniskillen. William moved to Glasgow with is mother around 1850. He married Catherine WELSH in 1861, and came to New Zealand on the HELENSLEE in 1864. Catherine and their two children, William Hastie b1862 and Jane Hastie b1864 followed on the Matoaka. William was trained as a mechanical engineer in Scotland but upon settling in Pokeno, owned and operated flax mills in the area as well as farming. Five more children were born in Pokeno. William and Catherine are both buried at the Pokeno Old Soldiers Cemetery in Helenslee Road.

Elizabeth DEAN born 1839 poss Enniskillen. Nothing more is known.

Richard DEAN born 1840 poss Enniskillen. Was resident in Glasgow with his mother in the 1851 census. Said to have been killed in the Crimean War c1854

Matthew James DEAN born 1843 poss Enniskillen. Matthew moved to Glasgow with his mother around 1850 and came on to New Zealand on the HELENSLEE in 1864 as a single man. In 1876 Matthew married Elizabeth Seaton Stewart CARNACHAN in Auckland. Matthew was a fitter by trade and worked in the Auckland area. They had eight children all born in Pokeno.(1886). Descendants of Matthew DEAN are still living in the Pokeno area (2004). Matthew and Elizabeth are both buried at the Pokeno Old Soldiers Cemetery in Helenslee Road.

Margaret DEAN born 1845 poss Enniskillen. Margaret moved to Scotland with her mother around 1850, and came to New Zealand on the HELENSLEE as a 20-year-old. On board was a 21 year old baker Robert WRIGHT. In 1870 they married at her brother John’s house in Pokeno (then known as Queens Redoubt) – a marriage which lasted over 55 years. Robert and Margaret had eight children all born Pokeno. Around they moved to Helensville to be near their son Bert who was a baker there. They later retired to Brown Street, Ponsonby, Auckland. Margaret and Robert are both buried at the Pokeno Old Soldiers Cemetery in Helenslee Road. For further information see WRIGHT OF STIRLINGSHIRE, SCOTLAND TO POKENO, NEW ZEALAND.

See also CRAIG, DEAN and WRIGHT Family Reunion 1964.

Queens Redoubt, Pokeno 1863.

For further genealogical information on these families please go to

WorldConnect on RootsWeb

Jeremy and Sarah’s many relations

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